If it comes out the end of my barrel, it is called self defense, regardless of FMJ or hollow point. Yes, I do have "self defense" ammo. If you count my FMJ stock vs. hollow point, that HP ratio is very thin due to cost. As someone posted, it all makes a hole!

I'd say 10:1 is about right for my 9mm stock: 5,000ish FMJ to 500ish JHP.

.45 ACP would be closer to 5:1, with 1,000ish FMJ to 200ish JHP. I don't shoot .45 anywhere near as much, and only have 2 handguns left in that caliber.

5.56 would be 10:1 or so as well, with 5k to 500, but for most other rifle calibers the ratio is way bigger. For example, .308 would be closer to 20:1, with 3,000 FMJ to 150ish hunting/soft point rounds. In .30-06, I have probably 30:1, with 3,000ish FMJ to 100 hunting/soft point rounds. .30 Carbine would be closer to 50:1, with 3,000ish to 50. And there are some surplus rifle calibers, like .303, 8mm Mauser, and 7.62x54R, for which I have several thousand rounds apiece, but I don't think I have anything but FMJ ammo in those calibers.

While I have a fair amount of self-defemse ammo, the bulk of my ammo is reloaded for plinking. Although my reloads are pretty well matched (bullet weight, velocity) to my defense ammo, I wouldn't use my reloads for defense, unlee I had no choice!!

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
All ammo is self defense if pointed at that fucker on my lawn letting his dog shit.

That is just stupid... sorry but it is....

I agree with those who say it can all be used for self defense. That said, in certain calibers 25 percent of my ammo is defensive HPs. I also am very well stocked on Ranger 9mm NATO FMJ roughly 60 percent of my long term storage. The ammo stocks that are rotated and used are typical practice brand offerings. If it ever got to a point that I am using my practice offerings for self defense, our society has devolved into something that is unfathomable. Even more so, when I consider that I defensive HPs in 9mm, .45, .40, 357 sig, 38/357 ammo in my inventory. I keep ammo to stay proficient and for times when availability becomes a problem.

I’ve got a box of HP for my edc and a few other guns, but the remaining is ball. In 5.56 all of it is M193 except eight mags of Remington PSP they they issued me for work when I was a cop.

Frankly any kind of round being shot at humans is self defense. All the 357 I have is cast 158grain rnfp...it’ll still kill you.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:

Frankly any kind of round being shot at humans is self defense.

Yup. Anybody who disagrees with this is not likely to volunteer to prove his / her theory by standing downrange while we have target practice.

I would say that 90% of my ammunition is FMJ. When talking with my brother we agreed that if we were shooting at someone they wouldn't say "that's not HP". My handguns have HP for the home, but as I stated it is a small percentage of my stock.

quote:

When you say you have 5K ammo, is it self defence?

Those are rookie numbers. Got to pump those numbers up!

I don't really have a lot of self-defense type ammo (hollow point, expanding, bonded, whatever). I have enough for my carry handguns.

I have maybe a ridiculous amount of Federal Reduced Recoil Flite Control 00 buck 12ga. I got a great deal on it a long time ago from Vance's in Columbus. They had to use a hand truck to bring it out.

In 5.56 and 7.62x39, I have nothing specifically considered self-defense. It's all M193, M855, and what ever ball in 7.62x39. I have enough to wear out the barrels I have.

The one thing I don't have that I'd like to have would be 45-70 in hard cast and solids.

It will all work.
If anybody's that worried about it, with all this time on our hands, get a file or hacksaw and carefully cut an X on the nose or drill a hole into the center.
Just remember, you don't have to outrun the bear, just your buddy (or unprepared neighbor).

Quality or Volume= Self Defense.

For my primary handgun caliber for concealment & HD, I buy Federal HST 124/147gr (+P or not, depending on availability) in 1000rd case. When I get to 500, I buy another. So I usually have 600-1500rds. For the other handgun calibers, I have 100-250 of JHP type ammo. The rest of the handgun ammo is FMJ - while no longer fashionable for SD, FMJs have killed people for centuries.

For rifle, it's similar with modern duty loads in 5.56/7.62 vs M193/M855/M80 for training.

I’m probably 10:1. In any caliber try to have roughly 1500 rounds self defense and rest target. I only have 7.62x39 and 5.56 rifles. I have a 7mm bolt deer gun with some hunting rounds but not a lot/ do not need more. For pistol mostly 9mm, 5.7, and .32. For revolver just .38 and .357...I have a lifetime of .22, .17 hmr and .22 magnum.

Keeping caliber under control and buying over last 5 years on deals means I’m sitting this one out.

Practice/plinking FMJ: ~93%
Match HP: ~4%
SD/HD GD/HST/SP: ~3%

I'm not putting a round count on that 3% but suffice it to say that, like others have stated, barring the apocalypse it's plenty, and if that runs out the FMJ will work.

OK, so I'm a bit odd.

I don't believe in "wonder bullets" - nor do I believe in carrying loads I can't afford to practice with.

So, my revolvers are loaded with jackets soft points, or wadcutters.

I have 77gr SMKs for my ARs.

I do have some expanding/spiffy rounds for some of my semi-autos, and good buckshot for my shotgun - so I suppose I'm being a bit of a hypocrite there, but I don't use them much.

Umm, ya, that's it. For self-defense. 7.62 x 51 / .308 is good for SD, hmm, ya. I stock both for one rifle that likes both.

All ammo can be used for self-defense. Some are better than others.

All of my handgun ammo is JHP. I only use ball ammo during the break in period. I practice with self-defense ammo in my handguns.

Much of my 5.56X45mm and 7.62X51mm ammo is Lake City NATO FMJ surplus. My other rifle ammo is hunting/self-defense.

Hazy lines between defense of self/loved ones/fellow citizens/country/Constitution. Anyone who claims one has more than needed for any of it, probably thinks you shouldn’t be armed anyway, so ignore them.

We have duty to be “well regulated” which requires an unspecified amount of practice.

My handgun ammo is typically 20% defensive rounds(gold dots mostly) and the rest target. AR ammo and shotgun ammo are the same for defense and practice.